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SBRIT-01 - Brigadier-General Simon Fraser (2 pcs)
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Fraser is best remembered for his service during General John Burgoyne’s 1777 Saratoga campaign. Commanding the army’s Advance Corps, he led a mixed force of light infantry, grenadiers, and loyalist auxiliaries tasked with reconnaissance, screening movements, and spearheading attacks through the difficult forests and rough terrain of upstate New York.
Unlike rigid line commanders of the era, Fraser understood the value of flexible battlefield tactics. He frequently employed light infantry in open formations, making effective use of skirmishers and terrain to counter American irregulars and riflemen. His troops were considered among the finest in Burgoyne’s army, known for discipline, rapid movement, and professionalism under fire.
During the Battles of Saratoga, Fraser played a central role in several hard-fought engagements. At the Battle of Freeman's Farm, his leadership helped stabilize British lines during fierce fighting against American forces under Benedict Arnold and Daniel Morgan.
Fraser met his end at the Battle of Bemis Heights. Recognized as a key leader directing British resistance, he became a target for American riflemen. He was mortally wounded while rallying troops near the front line, reportedly struck by a rifle shot directed by Timothy Murphy, one of Morgan’s marksmen. Fraser died later that evening, and Burgoyne is said to have deeply mourned the loss of one of his finest officers.
His burial became one of the iconic moments of the Saratoga campaign. As American artillery shells landed nearby, Fraser was interred on a hillside overlooking the battlefield, an event later immortalized in paintings and historical accounts.
Simon Fraser’s reputation endured long after the war. Even opponents regarded him as an honorable and courageous officer whose professionalism embodied the best qualities of the British Army during the Revolutionary era.
Brand: John Jenkins
